Method of reclaiming car axles



Dec. 10, 1929. J. R. BLAKESLEE' 1,739,119

METHOD OF RECLAIMING CAR AXLE-5 Filed Dec. 10, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet lBIZ] I I V V I I :4 i I I I I J) v i l l I I N V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY5 D l929.- J. R. BLAKESLE'E METHOD OF RECLAIMING CAR AXLES FiledD80. 10, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS Patented Dec. 10, 1929 [UNITESTATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN R. BLAKESLEE, OF W'ILLOUGHBY, OHIO, ASSIGNORTO'THE AJAX MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF EUCLID, OHIO, A CORPORATION OFOHIO METHOD OF RECLAIMING CAR AXLES Application filed December 10, 1926.Serial No. 153,895.

This invention relates more particularly to the reclaiming of railwayrolling-stock axles which have worn down at the journals to an extentprecluding their further use; and it is among the objects of theinvention to provide an improved procedure and equipment which makespossible the reconditioning of such axles to again go into service.Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, consists of the features hereinafter fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed drawings setting forth in detail but one of the various waysin which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a worn axle;Figs. 2, 3 and l are similar views of such axle as undergoing treatmentin accordance with the present invention; Fig. 5 is a side view of adie, punch and heading tool embodying features of the present invention;and Fig. 6 is an end view of the assembled die.

A worn axle as retired from service is shown in Fig. 1, the worn journaldimensions being indicated by the full lines as compared with theoriginal journal dimensions which are indicated by the dotted outline.In accordance with the present invention, such an axle is heated toforging temperature at least to a point well back of the wheel seat Sand is placed in the die groove 1 of a stationary die 2 and the matingdie 3 is closed thereupon such that the end collar 4 of the axle isengaged in the annular recess 5 of the assembled dies. The punch 6 isnow forced in against the end ofthe axle and with its further movementshears the end collar 4 cleanly oif, leaving the axle as shown in Fig.2. The dies and punch may be actuated by any suitable mechanism, thegeneral features of which are well known in the art, and need nodetailed illustration.

The axle is next transferred to the diegroove 7, and the dies arebrought together and then released, and the axle is turned to about 90and the dies are again brought together. This lengthens the axle, asindicated in Fig. 3, sufiiciently to allow a liberal finish at the worninside journal fillet lt and if the swaging be on the seat portion, asis preferable, it also establishes a predetermined diameter at the wheelseat for gripping the axle in the next operation. The axle is now placedin the die groove 8, and the dies are brought together and a headingtool 9 is brought into action against the end of the axle such as toupset the metal into the annular space 10 and thereby form a new endcollar. At the same time, a point 11 on the heading tool forms a centerseat for use in subsequent latheoperation. Any excess metal may flow offinto the overflow channel 12. The axle as now withdrawn from the dies isof the general character indicated in Fig. 4, and by machining down, asshown by the dotted outline in Fig. 4 to an axle of the next smallersize, a product is had ready to be annealed and receive the wheels andbe put into commission. The annealing not only eliminates stressesincurred from the forking treatment, but also any fatigue stressesresulting from the prior. service of the axle, so that as returned toser vice it is in as good condition metallurgically as when originallyput in service. By reason of the further working of the metal at thepoints to be mounted, the journal surfaces are as good and even betterthan in the case of new stock, and where the lengthening compensatoryfor the loss of the stock at the ends is taken at the expense of thewheel seat, it becomes merely necessary to apply wheels havingcorrespondingly smaller openings. In some cases the lengthening of theaxle as necessary to compensate for any stock lost, may be provided byswaging centrally. As a rule though, it is preferable to swage at thewheel seats.

In some cases, it will be preferred to heat only one end of the axle ata time for the forging operation and then heat and forge the other end,but it is also entirely feasible to heat both ends at once and forge atone handling.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change be ing made as regards the details disclosed, provided the stepsor means stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent ofsuch be used.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention 1. A method of reclaiming axles, which comprises punching offthe end collars, and sWage-lengthening the axles, upsetting new endcollars, and finishing to dimension.

2. A method of reclaiming axles, which comprises punching OK the endcollars, swaging the Wheel seats, upsetting new collars on the ends, andfinishing to dimension.

Signed by me this 6th day of December,

JOHN ,R. BLAKESLEE.

